Connecticut Travel

On Sunday, December 11, 2016, 12-4 p.m. at 295 West Ave., Norwalk, CT the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will collaborate with the Norwalk Public Library, New Canaan Dance Academy, Matthew Surapine Studio, and North Pole’s Santa Claus to create a festive event and several hours of entertainment for people of all ages.

Visitors will have an opportunity to view the exhibit, Holiday Splendor at the Mansion: Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations, enjoy music and dance surrounded by the glittering lights and beautiful displays throughout the first floor, and stop by the Mansion’s Café, featuring complimentary refreshments served by the Mansion’s costumed interpreters courtesy of Stew Leonard’s.

The event begins with a Special Reading from 12 noon to 12:30 p.m. Children of all ages are welcome to the festively adorned Mansion Rotunda, where white and colored snowflakes will be the background for a special holiday reading offered by the Norwalk Public Library.

At 12:30 Santa Claus with Reindeer and his loyal reindeer will make their way into the Music Room. Santa will spend a full hour greeting children and hearing their Christmas wishes before they head back to the North Pole for their big night.

New Canaan Dance Academy takes center stage from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. This performance celebrates the Mansions 50th Anniversary at the Holiday Open House with an exciting dance performance by New Canaan Dance Academy, one of the most dynamic and talented dance schools in Fairfield County. In September, NCDA students were chosen to be the Madison Square Garden back up dancers at the half -time show of the WNBA Liberty game with Laura Marano; they will also be performing at the NBA game on March 5, 2017. At the Holiday Open House, NCDA will be performing a mix of Hip-Hop, Jazz, Tap, and Lyrical dance performances. NCDA was founded in 2001 by Elaine Young.

Matthew Surapine Studio will perform a selection of holiday favorites, ranging from classical masterpieces to music from the Great American Songbook from 3 pm to 3:45 pm. Mr. Surapine, a nationally acclaimed opera singer who has been welcomed at major opera houses across the United States, including the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera, to name a few, will see one of his students perform at Carnegie Hall in the spring of 2017 as part of the All High School Voice Festival.

For more information on schedules and programs please visit www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799. To sign up for a monthly newsletter on travel tips for Fairfield County and Litchfield Hills visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Looking for a distinctive handmade gift that will truly be appreciated by the special people on your shopping list? Decked out in festive style, the historic Van Vleck House at Flanders Nature Center, located on 5 Church Hill Road in Woodbury is the setting for their annual “Artisan Marketplace”.

This popular annual event will run through December 18, 2016. At the Artisan Marketplace you will find a wide variety of quality creations handmade by local crafters and artisans including quilts, wreaths and greens, jewelry and pottery, toys, chocolates, ornaments, home décor, hand painted wine glasses, hats and hand dyed scarves, skin care and pet items as well as wool from Flanders own sheep and much more.

Artists and crafters will also be exhibiting their items and also showcasing their talents through demonstrations and workshops as featured artisans of the day. Proceeds benefit local artisans and Flanders land conservation and educational programs.

The Van Vleck house is located at the corner of Flanders and Church Hill Roads in Woodbury. The “Artisan Marketplace” will be open Saturdays and Sundays 11-4 through December 18th. This holiday season keep your shopping handmade and local!

Frosty the Snowman was a popular song written in 1950 and became an overnight classic by being adapted to a popular television special. The song of Frosty recounts the fictional tale of a snowman that is magically brought to life through a black top hat that a group of children place atop his head. Although Frosty enjoys frolicking and romping throughout town with the children who constructed him, the sun becomes too much for him to bear and Frosty is forced to leave town, promising his friends that he will return.

On December 10 & 11, 17 & 18, and 12/24: The Beardsley Zoo is getting into the holiday spirit by offering a special “Breakfast with Frosty & Friends” that will take place from, 9 a.m. – 10 am. Families are invited to join Frosty and his friends for breakfast at Connecticut’s only Zoo. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Amanda Bolanos at (203) 394-6574. The cost of this special event that includes Zoo admission and breakfast is $10 per person for Zoo members and $15 per person for non-members.

ZOO GIFT GIVING IDEAS:
As the holidays are approaching fast if you are looking for something unique you might consider picking up an unusual and thoughtful gift from the Beardsley Zoo for everyone on your list!

Membership to Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo for example can be enjoyed year-round. Your loved one gets free admission to the Zoo and free or discounted admission to over 150 zoos and aquariums nationwide. Membership also includes ZooBucks, carousel rides & guest passes! Contact Amanda Bolanos at 203-394-6574 for more information.
If you are looking for a more permanent gift, consider purchasing and engraving a Zoo Brick for someone special. Bricks will be displayed at the Zoo’s Front Gate for all to see! Contact Emily Bobowick at 203-394-6569 for more information.

If you have a real animal lover on your list, consider a gift of Animal Sponsorship. With this gift, you will receive a Sponsorship Certificate, Fact Sheet & Photograph of your sponsored animal that you can visit at the Zoo.

If you are seeking something different, don’t forget to check out the gift shop at the Zoo. The Beardsley Zoo’s fabulous gift shop offers everything from children’s games and handmade jewelry to clothing and animal-themed Christmas ornaments. You’ll be amazed at the wide selection of gifts for him and her and for the little ones, too!

Give a Zoo Birthday Party — Party like an animal and make your loved one’s wishes come true by gifting a party at the Zoo! Connecticut’s only zoo is available on Saturdays and Sundays year round for birthday parties. Make a lasting impression with a

Zoo animal guest, a critter craft, and a ride on our colorful carousel! Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is a fun and exciting place for any child’s birthday party. To learn more, call (203) 332 4243 or email lisner@beardsleyzoo.org for more information!

For a monthly newsletter on what to see and do in Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com
About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo celebrates its 90th birthday in 2012 and is closer than you think! Connecticut’s only zoo features 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species. Visitors won’t want to miss our Amur (Siberian) tigers, Brazilian ocelot, Red wolves, and Golden Lion tamarins. Other highlights include our South American rainforest with free-flight aviary, the prairie dog exhibit with “pop-up” viewing areas, the New England Farmyard with goats, cows, pigs, sheep, and other barnyard critters, plus the Grasslands trail featuring bison, pronghorn, deer, and more. Visitors can grab a bite at the Peacock Café, eat in the Picnic Grove, and enjoy a ride on our colorful carousel. For more information, visit beardsleyzoo.org

The sweet scents will tease your sense of smell as you enter the quaint village of Kent CT. The rolling pins are spinning and creative minds of all ages are working hard to create dozens of Gingerbread Houses. Ovens are filled to capacity and working overtime to get ready for the ANNUAL KENT GINGERBREAD FESTIVAL beginning on November 25 and running through December 31.
Gingerbread Houses of all shapes and sizes will be on display in many of Kent’s beautifully decorated shop windows until December 31. As you approach Kent you will find yourself in what looks like a movie set of the perfect little New England town, twinkling lights will guide you through the unique one of a kind shops. What an enjoyable way to do your holiday shopping.

Lots of places feature colorful gingerbread houses for the holidays, but Kent, CT goes a step further. The whole town will take place in this sugary sweet celebration. Everyone is invited to follow the Gingerbread Walk through town to view imaginative and ingenious gingerbread delights. Visitors can enjoy the displays as they navigate the gingerbread map and solve the NEW mysterious riddle the Ginger Girls have cooked up this year. At the end, visitors vote for their favorite creations. Displays are guaranteed to delight all ages!

Should you be hungry after your Gingerbread Walk there are many temptations that will lure you, from a chocolate shop and baked goods to delicious culinary delights in one of Kent’s many restaurants & cafés. In addition to gingerbread displays, Kent will have special holiday events every weekend, from the Annual Kent Holiday Champagne Stroll, wine tastings and even

Pancakes with Santa to an old time horse-drawn carriage ride through town and a Messiah sing-along. For more holiday information a visit http://kentct.com/events/

Make a magical milk-mustached memory this holiday season with tasty treats, visits with Santa Claus and a giant-screen thrill ride to the North Pole during “‘Polar Express’ Pajama Parties” offered by The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

On the weekends of Dec. 10-11 and 17-18, the Aquarium is inviting families to roll out of bed and come in their jammies for special morning screenings of the animated Christmas IMAX® movie “The Polar Express,” showing on the six-story screen. Each day, the movie starts at 10 a.m. but come at 9 a.m. to first enjoy a hot-chocolate bar, cookies and other baked treats, a special holiday craft, and visits – and pictures – with Santa Claus.

Each “‘Polar Express’ Pajama Party” begins at 9 a.m. with a hot chocolate bar featuring all-natural cocoa complements of Sillycow Farms™. Guests can top their hot chocolate with whipped cream and a selection of exotic toppings. Plus, they can choose from a delicious spread of decadent cookies provided by SoNo Bakery in Norwalk (Dec. 10 & 11) and Sunny & Frankies in Stamford (Dec. 17 & 18).

“Pajama Party” partiers also can visit with Aquarium educators, who will help them make a holiday ornament and explore some of the strategies that animals use to keep warm in winter – all before the movie starts at 10 a.m.

Featuring Tom Hanks as the voices of five characters, “The Polar Express” expands on the 1986 Caldecott Award-winning book by Chris Van Allsburg. The story follows a young boy who doubts the existence of Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, a locomotive magically arrives to take him and other doubtful children to Santa’s North Pole headquarters.

IMAX is the world’s largest film format. Outstanding image clarity and the enormous screen size, combined with The Maritime Aquarium’s 12,000-watt surround-sound audio system, results in an immersive thrill that is so unique it’s been trademarked.

Tickets for a “‘Polar Express’ Pajama Party” are $17 for adults and $15 for kids 3-12 ($15 and $13 for Aquarium members). Each show is limited to 310 seats, so advance purchase is strongly recommended. Buy online at http://www.maritimeaquarium.org or call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206.

Can’t make it to a morning “Pajama Party” but still want to see “The Polar Express” in the IMAX Theater? The film is showing at 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 18, and also will play at 5 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 23 and at 5 p.m. daily Dec. 26-Jan. 2. Because it is an hour and 40 minutes long, it’s specially priced: $11.50 for adults; $10.50 for youths (ages 13-17) & seniors (65+); and $9.50 for children 3-12. Maritime Aquarium members save $1.

Besides the weekend shows and the “Pajama Parties,” screenings of “The Polar Express” are available for preschool and elementary-school students on weekdays at 9 and 10 a.m.

Get more details or reserve your tickets in advance at www.maritimeaquarium.org or by calling (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206. To sign up for a monthly newsletter on all there is to see and do in Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County visit www.fairfieldcountyct.com

The Palace Theater has a calendar filled with a wide array of holiday themed shows beginning in December to get you into a holiday mood.

The merriment begins with the presentation of MANHEIM STEAMROLLER BY CHIP DAVIS sponsored by Savings Bank of Danbury on Sunday December 4, has been America’s favorite holiday tradition for the past 30 years! Grammy Award-winner Chip Davis has created a show that features the beloved Christmas music of Mannheim Steamroller along with dazzling multimedia effects performed in an intimate setting. The group’s holiday CDs have become synonymous with Christmas and continue to occupy top spots on Billboard’s Seasonal Charts every year. Experience the magic as the spirit of the season comes alive with the signature sound of Mannheim Steamroller!

On December 16 usher in the spirit of the holiday season with SOULFUL SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS featuring WILL DOWNING & NAJEE presented by ACT Jams Productions. With a career that spans over 27 years and 18 albums, Will Downing is one of the most versatile and loved voices of our time. His repertoire consists of signature interpretations of R&B classics like “I Go Crazy,” “Wishing On A Star” and “I Try,” with original hits “A Million Ways,” “Sorry I” and the show-stopping duet with Rachelle Ferrell, “Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This.” His distinctive baritone voice has resonated in the hearts of women world-wide and carved a unique niche in the music marketplace.

Two-time Grammy nominated saxophonist and flautist, Najee has made a career following his heart and keen musical intuition by pushing musical boundaries, all of which have made him an international pioneer in the music industry. Having collaborated with everyone in the music business from Prince and Quincy Jones to Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and Herbie Hancock, Najee’s technical agility, grace, compositional prowess, unbridled passion and fearless genre bending have made him one of the most sought after musicians of his generation. With two Platinum and four Gold albums under his belt, Najee is an icon whose musical vision spawned an entire new genre by fusing the music close to his heart.

Following the concert, guests are invited to take to the dance floor in the orchestra lobby for an Old School Holiday Dance Party featuring everyone’s favorite R&B, funk, house and holiday classics spun by the evening’s host, Al “DJ ACT” Taylor from 94.3FM WYBC.

December 6 – 11the week-long tour of KINKY BOOTS will make its debt!

Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.palacetheaterct.org, by phone at 203-346-2000, or in person at the Box Office, 100 East Main St.